Tough Day at Eislek Gravel Luxembourg

After a truly unforgettable edition of UNBOUND, the Ridley Racing Team returned to Europe for the next major challenge: Eislek Gravel Luxembourg—a new race on the calendar and the first-ever UCI gravel event in the Grand Duchy. Held in the historic town of Vianden, the race marked the beginning of the second half of our gravel season, offering both an opportunity and a test on unfamiliar terrain.

The Eislek Gravel course featured a 46.8 km circuit split into two distinct sections: the Luxembourg Loop and the German Loop. Both men and women in the elite categories completed 2.5 laps, making it a true endurance test. It was a classic all-rounder’s course—climbs, flats, forest trails, technical descents, and even cobbled roads leading to Vianden Castle. The terrain was as scenic as it was selective, making it a perfect setting to test every facet of gravel racing.

Nicole in the Top 10 Again

In the women’s race, Nicole delivered another solid performance, finishing 9th overall. She felt strong from start to finish and managed to stay close to the front during the early parts of the race. However, once the age group men began to pass from behind, it became increasingly difficult to track competitors and hold position. Despite that, she kept her composure and secured another top-10 finish, continuing her consistent season.

Mechanical Mayhem for the Men

For the men, it was a day that tested more than just fitness. Aaron and Felipe were our first finishers in 18th and 19th place, staying close together throughout the race. Behind them, however, Daan and Joris were hit by a string of misfortunes.

Daan punctured just 30 minutes into the race and swapped wheels thanks to our mechanics. But fate wasn’t on his side—he suffered two more punctures, front and rear. Using all the plugs and a hand pump from Thomas De Gendt, he managed to limp to the finish line, earning full marks for perseverance.

Joris, who was riding with Aaron and Felipe at the time, also flatted and encountered shifting issues that threw off his rhythm. Gravel gives and takes. This time, it demanded a bit too much.

Eyes on Hegau

With a mix of solid results and mechanical frustrations, Eislek Gravel was a day of valuable lessons. As the dust settles—literally and figuratively—our riders are already shifting focus to the next UCI Gravel World Series stop: the Hegau Gravel Festival in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. We’ll be back stronger, and hopefully with a little more luck on our side.